Fluid filtration system

Abstract

A fluid filtration system is disclosed herein. The filtration system includes a main tubular housing defining an interior chamber and having an outlet opening at a top end thereof and an inlet opening at a bottom thereof. A tubular inlet housing extends vertically into the interior chamber of the main housing through the inlet opening of the main housing. The tubular inlet housing has a hollow interior filled with shards of permanent magnets, a plurality of outlet portals located in the interior chamber proximate the bottom of the main housing, and an inlet opening at a bottom thereof. An inlet conduit is connected to the inlet opening of the tubular inlet housing. An adjustable fluid pump and can force the fluid from a supply of fluid to be filtered upwards through the inlet conduit at varying speeds. A permeable but compact horizontal layer of medium capable of trapping particulates is provided in the interior chamber of the main tubular housing adjacent the tubular inlet housing. The layer includes filtering particles that are attached to the magnets. Forces of magnetism produced by the shards of permanent magnets and gravity constrain the horizontal layer of filtering medium to maintain in place the layer of filtering particles. The adjustable fluid pump, an air pump connected to the inlet conduit, or electromagnets or vibrators mounted on an outer surface of the main housing can be used to disrupt the compactness of the layer of filtering particles to permit trapped particulates to be released and washed away from the layer of filtering particles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid filtration system, comprising:
 a main tubular housing defining an interior chamber and having an outlet opening at a top end thereof and an inlet opening at a bottom thereof; 
 a tubular inlet housing extending vertically into the interior chamber of the main tubular housing through the inlet opening of the main tubular housing, the tubular inlet housing having a hollow interior filled with shards of permanent magnets, the tubular inlet housing having a plurality of outlet portals located in the interior chamber proximate the bottom of the main tubular housing, the tubular inlet housing having an inlet opening at a bottom thereof; 
 an inlet conduit connected to the inlet opening of the tubular inlet housing; 
 a supply of the fluid to be filtered; 
 an adjustable fluid pump having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the adjustable fluid pump is connected to the supply of the fluid to be filtered, wherein the outlet of the adjustable fluid pump is connected to the inlet conduit and can force the fluid upwards through the inlet conduit at varying speeds; 
 an outlet conduit connected to the outlet opening of the main housing; 
 wherein the inlet conduit directs an upward flow of fluid to be filtered into the inlet opening of the tubular inlet housing, to produce a permeating upward flow of fluid in the interior chamber of the main tubular housing; 
 a permeable but compact horizontal layer of filtering medium capable of trapping particulates located in the interior chamber of the main tubular housing adjacent to the tubular inlet housing, the layer comprising filtering particles that are attracted to the shards of permanent magnets located in tubular inlet housing; 
 wherein forces of magnetism produced by the shards of permanent magnets and gravity constrain the horizontal layer of filtering medium to maintain the layer of filtering particles in place; and 
 means for disrupting the compactness of the filtering layer, whereby trapped particulates are released and washed away from the layer of filtering medium by the permeating upward flow of fluid. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid filtration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of filtering particles comprises magnetite. 
     
     
       3. The fluid filtration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of disrupting the compactness of the layer of filtering medium comprises said adjustable fluid pump, wherein the fluid pump is adjusted to increase a flow rate of the fluid to be filtered to disrupt the layer of filtering medium attracted to the magnets and to thereby release the particulates trapped therein. 
     
     
       4. The fluid filtration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of disrupting the compactness of the layer of filtering medium comprises an air pump that is connected to the inlet conduit and is adapted to release a stream of air into the upward flow of the fluid to be filtered, whereby the compactness of the layer of particles attracted to magnets is disrupted by the stream of air and particulates trapped therein are released and washed away. 
     
     
       5. The fluid filtration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of disrupting the compactness of the layer of filtering medium comprises electromagnets on an outer surface of the main housing, wherein movement in the filtering medium is provided when the electromagnets are electrified in the vicinity of the layer of particles attracted to magnets, whereby the compactness of the layer of particles attracted to magnets is disrupted and particulates trapped therein are released and washed away. 
     
     
       6. The fluid filtration system according to  claim 1 , further wherein the means of disruption of the compactness of the layer of filter media comprises a vibrator mounted on an outer surface of the main housing, wherein a mechanical force is applied to the layer of filtering medium by energizing said vibrator, whereby the compactness of the layer of particles attracted to magnets is disrupted and particulates trapped therein are released and washed away.